Steel wool



Patented Got. 12, 1948 STEEL. WOOL James R. Thompson, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey N Drawing. Application August 31, 1945, Serial No. 613,955

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved steel wool and more particularly to an improved composition for use in making the wool. At present, steel W001 is made by malnng a rod which is drawn to size, heat treating the rod, and then cutting fibers from the rod to make the steel wool. I have found that steel wool ordinarily used tends to rust, thus destroying its utility to a great extent since for many uses the rust causes damage to the article being worked. In the manufacture of the wool I have found that the drawing properties are not satisfactory, which is apparently caused by the non-uniformity of the heat treatment. The fibers cut from the rod should be long, but with the rods used at present, there is a tendency for the fibers to break. The wool cutting knives also become dull quickly.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide steel wool which will resist corrosion to a large extent.

Another object is to provide steel wool which is made from rod which is readily drawn and easily machined.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following description.

I have found that by using a steel of the following composition I will obtain the results lowing composition has been found to give satisfactory results:

Io Mn P s Cu B .70 .110 max. .060 max. 20 003 .30

If the manganese content is increased, the nickel content may be lowered without detracting from the improved properties of the woolwire, as, for example:

0 M11 P S 011 B 12 85 .110 max. .060 max. 02 003 desired: substantially all iron.

0 Mn P S Cu B Ni .10-. 15 .05. 95 .110 max. .060 max. .20-. 50 .001-. 005 10-. 50

The copper and the nickel increase the resistance to corrosion and the nickel also prevents the formation of a copper-rich low melting alloy that penetrates the grain boundaries and gives rise to minute surface cracks. The boron aids in eliminating non-metallic inclusions which are detrimental to the cuttin of the steel Wool since they tend to break the continuity of the wool fibers and dull the wool cutting knives. The boron also renders the steel more responsive to heat treatment, such as patenting in the rod form, and thereby improves the drawing properties in the manufacture of wire and the cutting properties of the rod. The copper, nickel and boron are all necessary to obtain optimum results, but it has also been found advantageous to have only the copper and nickel present. I have found that with the addition of boron and nickel the manganese content may be lowered somewhat from that ordinarily thought necessary in the manufacture of steel wool. For example, the fol- 2. Steel wool containing from about 0.10 to about 0.15 per cent carbon, from about 0.65 to about 0.95 per cent manganese, from about 0.20 to about 0.50 per cent copper, from about 0.10 to about 0.50 per cent nickel, from about 0.001 to about 0.005 per cent boron, and the remainder substantially all iron.

3. Steel wool containing about 0.12 per cent carbon, about 0.70 per cent manganese, a maximum of about 0.11 per cent phosphorus, a maximum of about 0.00 per cent sulphur, about 0.20 per cent copper, about 0.30 per cent nickel, about 0.003 per cent boron, and the remainder substantially all iron.

4. Steel wool containing about 0.12 per cent carbon, about 0.85 per cent manganese, a maximum of about 0.11 per cent phosphorus, a maximum of about 0.06 per cent sulphur, about 0.20 per cent copper, about 0.20 per cent nickel, about 0.003 per cent boron, and the remainder substantially all iron.

5. Steel w-ool containing about 0.12 per cent carbon, about 0.70 per cent manganese, about 0.20 per cent copper, about 0.30 per cent nickel, about 0.003 per cent boron, and the remainder substantially all iron. 7

6. steel'vvom eontaimng about 0.12 per cent carbon; about (185 per cent manganese, about 0020 per cent copper, about 0.20 per cent nickel,

about 0.003 per cent boron, and the remaindersubstantially all iron.

' JAMES R. THOMPSON.

1 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS;

Number Name 2 Date Passano Dec. 14, 1937 Tisdale May 19, 1942 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,451,417. October 12, 1948.

JAMES R. THOMPSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 2, line 15, under the heading Cu for 0.2 read .20;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of February, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

